Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display driving control circuitry – Controlling the condition of display elements
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-22
2001-04-24
Bayerl, Raymond J. (Department: 2173)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display driving control circuitry
Controlling the condition of display elements
C345S215000, C345S168000, C345S184000, C399S081000, C358S001140, C358S406000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06222539
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
This invention generally relates to image forming devices. More particularly, this invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing information to a user about the image forming device.
2. Background Art
Image forming devices such as laser printers, facsimile machines, inkjet printers, dot matrix printers, thermal printers and the like, have become extremely complex in terms of the number of features and capabilities available. As more and more features are included in these devices it becomes increasingly difficult to provide helpful information to the user in an efficient manner.
Most of these devices provide a display, usually a small alphanumeric LCD display of two short lines of text, in conjunction with the control panel to provide information to the user. A common implementation is to use a hierarchical menu system to allow the user to select help information based upon a particular feature or function of the device. As more and more features are added, the hierarchical menu structure becomes extremely complex and difficult to navigate. Additionally, it is difficult for the user to identify the particular feature or function for which help is needed. These difficulties are compounded by the limited size of the display which results in a very limited amount of information being available to the user. Often times a somewhat cryptic error message or warning message is displayed which forces the user to locate the device manual and translate the error message into an action to be performed by the user to place the device back in service.
The differences between an error message and a warning message are sometimes confusing to the user. Here, an error message is one which is displayed when an action is required by the user to place the device back in service. A warning message on the other hand is one which is displayed to alert the user to an impending condition which needs attention but which will not prevent immediate printing. Often when a warning message is displayed, the user will mistakenly believe that some action must be taken immediately when this is really not the case. However, because of the limited display functionality it is very difficult to differentiate between error messages which require immediate attention, and warning messages which are preventive or pro-active in nature.
It would be desirable to provide a help system at the control panel of the device which is easy to navigate, much more extensive in scope and even a help feature which can guide a user step-by-step through a correction or maintenance procedure.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides extended help information at the control panel of an image forming device using a combination of hardware and software or firmware to increase the functionality of the control panel. In one embodiment of the invention dual functionality is added to one of the selector switches on the control panel such as the item selector switch. In another embodiment of the invention, a separate help button is provided on the control panel. In addition to the provision of a help button, a visual indicator display such as a light emitting diode (LED) can be added to indicate the availability of help as well. In some other embodiments of the invention, a help symbol is displayed on the alphanumeric display panel such as a “?” to indicate the availability of help. The help symbol can be duplicated in permanent indicia on or near the help button on the control panel. This correlation helps the user to identify which button to press to activate help.
In some embodiments of the invention, whether a separate button is provided or one of the existing buttons is used, a rocker type switch is used which allows scrolling of the display. Advantageously this button is geographically located on the control panel, such as immediately to the right of the display in a vertical orientation, at least in the case where a separate help scrolling switch is provided. Printer control circuitry is provided to monitor the state of the help switch whether this is a separate switch or a dual function switch. The printer control circuitry includes programming to display messages, help information as well as graphical indicia to aid the user to both navigate and to understand the help information.
In some embodiments of the invention, the printer control circuitry is programmed to display error messages and warning messages differently. For example, during normal printing the display a might display message such as “Ready”. If a low toner condition were detected the display might alternate between “Ready” and “Toner Low ?”, with the “?” indicating that help is available to help the user replace the depleted consumable. An error message on the other hand, such as a paper jam, would be displayed differently. In this case the standard error message such as “13.1 Paper Jam” would be displayed on the alphanumeric display and might alternate with a displayed message such as “Check Middle Front Drawer” which may in turn alternate with a message such as “For Help Press The ? Key”. Displaying the standard “13.1 Paper Jam” message allows the experienced user who is already familiar with this message to proceed directly to the area of the image forming device to fix the problem. The intermediate message “Check Middle Front Drawer” allows a somewhat less experienced user to identify the problem area in the image forming device and fix the problem without further instruction. Finally, the extended help feature allows a novice user to obtain the information about both locating and fixing the problem.
In yet another embodiment of the invention, custom messages can be installed within the image forming device to relay information to the end-user. For instance, in a large organization a system administrator may have a specific procedure which the organization's employees must follow when a consumable is replaced in the image forming device. This procedure might include documenting the date, time and type of consumable as well as information about where and how the consumable is procured. All of this information can be displayed in a customized message which is a subset of the standard toner low message. Advantageously, custom messages may be up loaded to a networked image forming device by the system administrator across the network.
The invention enables a number of advantages which include: 1) Putting help at the user's fingertips and thus eliminating the need for the user to locate the manual to decipher a cryptic error or warning message; 2) The advantage that help messages can be of virtually unlimited size and formatted to fit even small displays by providing scrolling error messages; 3) Allowing the user to read and review messages at their own speed via a scroll key; and 4) Providing sequential procedural instructions to the user to guide the user step-by-step through whatever process is necessary to place the image forming device back in service.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4792827 (1988-12-01), Ogura
patent: 5363204 (1994-11-01), Millman
patent: 5539499 (1996-07-01), Fujisawa
patent: 5583617 (1996-12-01), Altrieth, III et al.
patent: 5768657 (1998-06-01), Kimura et al.
patent: 5950045 (1999-09-01), Nomura et al.
Bayerl Raymond J.
Hewlett--Packard Company
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